Voice of Caurem People

Goa's ecology benefitted greatly after mining in Goa was stopped from 2012. Over the past few years however some miners are at work to resume the ugly mining yet again. Let's look at Caurem village in Goa's Quepem Taluka.

Goa Government had called for the Public Hearing on April 11, 2023 and its suddenly called off. One mining company had proposed to mine beautiful Forest land on top of Zamblidadga mountain to extract Iron ore and Manganese. To oppose this plan Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar Federation (GAKUVED) moved Goa Bench of Bombay High Court calling for enforcement of Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Public Hearing was fixed to be held in Quepem's Maina village as part of consultative process required by law. According to the Terms of Reference issued by the State Government mining company is required to hold mandatory Public Hearing before starting of any activity of excavation on ground.

People has stacked their claims over this Forest land with concerned government offices six years ago.

To deliberate this issue Caurem Gram Sabha meeting passed two unanimous resolutions. First, the survey number 19 be brought under the purview of Forest Rights Act. Second, Forest land in this survey number should not be diverted for any mining or industrial projects.

Miner Pradnya Zoivont Pai Kano has prepared 768 page draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report under Environment Protection Act 1986 to put before public. According to this report depth of the proposed mine will go upto 173 meters deep in ground to extract minerals. Water found in the ground is permitted by Water Resources Department to be pumped out and sold at the rate of 720,000 litres per day. Further this extracted water is permitted to be transported through GPS attached water tankers. Who benefits here?

We know that for the past 22 years Pissurlem farmers are asking for supply of water stocked in their village mining pits to be supplied to cultivate paddy fields. State Government has put all these demands on deaf ear while it has permitted miners in Caurem to extract and sell water. Is this correct?

Draft EIA report notes that Caurem mine when it starts will provide employment for 52 people. According to individual Forest Rights claims filed with State Authorities 149 families are dependent upon this Forest land for their livelihood in the form of Cashew and allied activities. If each family is assumed to be consisting of 04 people then total number of people depending on this forest land for their livelihoods is 496. So in order to create employment for 52 people through mining employment of 496 people will be stopped. What Justice is this?

Goa's mining history is 94 years old. First mining lease was granted in 1929. Few people accumulated huge wealth from mining in Goa. This has led to frightening impacts on society and ecology of Goa. In this context will the voice of Caurem people be the beacon of Hope?

Seby Rodrigues

Konkani version of this article was published in daily oHeraldo published from Panjim, Goa on Sunday, April 23, 2023.

Click here to access the Konkani version. 

Caurem Mining Public Hearing Canceled

Bowing to the tremendous pressure of Caurem villagers to oppose  the project, the “Goa State Pollution Control Board,” Saligao, Barbez,  Under the Direction,issued by District Megistrate South Goa has, Cancelled environmental public hearing scheduled on 11/04/2023 at Government high school Ground maina Quepem Goa with respect to

“ZAMBLIDADGA DONGOR IRON AND MANGANESE ORE MINE” Bearing Mining Lease Number M.L. No.3/FeMn/79 Having an area of 70.20 Ha located at Survey.No. 19/0 (part) of Caurem village, Quepem Taluka, South Goa District, Goa Lessee Late Shri.Naraina Sinai Quirtonim,Represented by Smt, Pradnya Zoivant Poi Cano alias Pradnya Zoivant Pai Cano,

Notice regarding Cancellation of public hearing issued today, Sunday 09/04/2023 By Goa State Pollution Control Board .

It may be recalled that GAKUVED Federation has opposed proposed project. A PIL Writ petition was filed in the High Court of Bombay at Goa Bench  05.04.2023 on the proposed mine ZAMBLIDADGA DONGOR IRON AND MANGANESE ORE MINE (M.L. No.3/FeMn/79) at Sy.No. 19/0 of Caurem village by Gawada Kunbi Velip & Dhangar Federation(GAKUVED) and 9 other petitioners from Caurem village . CAUREM Villagers had recently passed an unanimous resolution opposing the diversion of forest land for mining or any other industrial purpose at Sy.No. 19 of Caurem village, in the Gram-sabha of V.P Caurem - Pirla held on 02.04.2023.

The tribal forest dwellers have their cultivation on the mountain at Sy.No. 19/0 and are also engaged in collecting minor forest produce. The said mountain is an ecological hotspot and is known for its biodiversity and wildlife. The said mountain also has a religious importance and the springs that originate from the bottom of the mountain fulfils the drinking as well as irrigation water needs of the village. There are a total 149 individual claims and one community resource rights (CFR) claim filed on this mountain under FRA, which are due for settlement.

The GAKUVED had earlier sought interim relief from the High Court to cancel the Public Hearing scheduled on 11 April 2023 with regards to the application for prior Environmental Clearance submitted by the mining lessee and matter is likely to come up for urgent hearing on Monday 10/04/2023 in High Court of Bombay at Goa. 

Other relief sought were to:

1. Directions to expedite the process of settlement of the forest rights claim of the villagers of Caurem in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Forest Rights Act,2006.

 

2. Not to process the applications for Environmental Clearance submitted by the mining lessee for mining of minerals in Sy. no. 19/0 Caurem village, Quepem taluka until the forest rights claim of the villagers of Caurem are settled.

The respondents are as follow:

1. State of Goa,Through the Chief Secretary of Goa 

2. Directorate of Mines and Geology

3. The Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority

4. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Goa

5. The Collector & District Magistrate, South Goa

6. The Deputy Collector & S.D.O

7. The Village Panchayat of Caurem

8. Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change

9. Ministry of Tribal Affairs 

10. Goa State Pollution Control Board

11. Smt. Pradnya Zoivant Poi Cano alias Pradnya Zoivant Pai Cano (Lessee)

Now Public hearing being Cancelled GAKUVED is hopeful that the proposed project would be scrapped.

 

Will Egna Cleetus IAS give Justice to Caurem tribals?

Goa Governor yesterday has brought in young Ms. Egna Cleetus an officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of

2020 batch as Deputy Collector and SDO, Quepem with additional charge as Forest Settlement Officer (South). As SDO she has power over Police functioning.

This posting aquires significance in the light of mysterious disappearance of file containing Collective Forest Rights claims of Tribal people from Caurem village over management of village Forests including survey no.19 filed in 2016. File it appears has gone missing from the office of Deputy Collector at Quepem.

In the meanwhile Survey no.19 has been placed for public hearing to commence mining even without settlement of Forest Rights claims. 


Last Sunday Caurem-Pirla Panchayat Gram Sabha has opposed diversion of village Forest for mining or any other industrial activity. Gram Sabha has also called for implementation of collective Forest Rights claims pending before the office of Deputy Collector, Quepem. Local MLA Subhas Faldessai too has supported Caurem villagers claims at the Gram Sabha. 

Yesterday group of Caurem villagers along with Gawda, Kunbi, Velip Dhangar (GAKEVED) Federation has approached Goa Bench of Bombay High calling for implementation of Collective Forest Rights claims under Forest Rights Act 2006 and cancelation of Sceduled Public Hearing for April 11, 2023.

It is learnt that a mining company is actually behind this conspiracy as the file for diversion of 70.20 hectares of  land is listed on the website of Regional Office of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) based in Bangalore without consent and even without consulting Caurem villagers. This is colonial style of functioning with might is right jungle rule, predator-prey relationship. This has to stop now!


First task before Ms. Egna Cleetus is clear: locate the Caurem Forest Rights claims that has gone missing for past seven years. Second task if the file is not traced then to file FIR against those responsible for making it untraceable under section 8 and section 9 of Public Records Act 1993 Goa being annexed territory of the Central Government or under section 201 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) or any other law. Third task is to process the Collective Forest Rights claims of Caurem tribal people by making alternate arrangements.

People of Goa observe her conduct in all her roles at Quepem posting.

GAKUVED knocks High Court doors against Caurem mining Public Hearing

A PIL Writ petition has been filed in the High Court of Bombay at Goa Bench yesterday on 05.04.2023 on the proposed mine ZAMBLIDADGA DONGOR IRON AND MANGANESE ORE MINE (M.L. No.3/FeMn/79) at Sy.No. 19/0 of Caurem village. The petitioners are Gakuved Federation and 9 other petitioners from Caurem village. The tribal villagers of Caurem had earlier written to the Gakuved federation to provide them legal assistance in opposing the above mentioned mine and had recently passed an unanimous resolution opposing the diversion of forest land for mining or any other industrial purpose at Sy.No. 19 of Caurem village, in the Gram-sabha of V.P Caurem - Pirla held on 02.04.2023. The tribal forest dwellers have their cultivation on the mountain at Sy.No. 19/0 and are also engaged in collecting minor forest produce. The said mountain is an ecological hotspot and is known for its biodiversity and wildlife. The said mountain also has a religious importance and the springs that originate from the bottom of the mountain fulfills the drinking as well as irrigation water needs of the village. There are a total 149 individual claims and one community resource rights (CFR) claim filed on this mountain under FRA, which are due for settlement.

The relief sought from the High Court is as follows:

1. Directions to expedite the process of settlement of the forest rights claim of the villagers of Caurem in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Forest Rights Act,2006.

2. Not to process the applications for Environmental Clearance submitted by the mining lessee for mining of minerals in Sy. no. 19/0 Caurem village, Quepem taluka until the forest rights claim of the villagers of Caurem are settled.

3. Interim relief restraining from proceeding with the Public Hearing scheduled on 11 April 2023 with regards to the application for prior Environmental Clearance submitted by the mining lessee.

The respondents are as follow:

1. State of Goa,Through the Chief Secretary of Goa 

2. Directorate of Mines and Geology

3. The Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority

4. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Goa

5. The Collector & District Magistrate, South Goa

6. The Deputy Collector & S.D.O

7. The Village Panchayat of Caurem

8. Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change

9. Ministry of Tribal Affairs 

10. Goa State Pollution Control Board

11. Smt. Pradnya Zoivant Poi Cano alias Pradnya Zoivant Pai Cano (Lessee)

Loosing Forest for the mines in Caurem?

Here we present Caurem mining EIA critique by Samuel Aaron Afonso

1) The parameters of water quality and noise levels (decibels) not mentioned include the methods and equipment used.

2) Embarked place for waste disposal not described.

3) No system for testing groundwater contamination specifically.

4) For compensation they have included native and non native trees. My question is why have they included non-native/exotic trees.. We have enough ecological imbalance due to exotic trees. Therefore only endemic/native tree plantations should be allowed and encouraged.

All endemic plants should be properly described without missing out on any. Because negligence could lead some endemic trees to fall into the endangered category which is already happening in many areas in India.

5) There is no proper inventory for the number and type of trees to be cut. It is vaguely mentioned as hectares.

6) GIS technology should be used to the fullest which is not seen in this case used to its full potential. There are many upcoming qualified GIS consultants in Goa which could be used for this project and get the best output from it.

Caurem-Pirla Panchayat Gram Sabha red flag to diversion of village Forest land for mining purpose

The gram sabha of village panchayat Caurem - Pirla today on 02.04.2023 passed an unanimous resolution to oppose any kind of diversion of forest land at Survey No. 19 of Caurem village. The resolution reads as follows.

 

‘The gram sabha of Village Panchayat resolves that there shall be no diversion of forest land at Sy. No. 19/0, Cavorem village, Quepem Taluka for mining or any other industrial purpose considering its ecological, cultural, religious importance and livelihood of the Scheduled Tribes and other traditional dwellers of Caurem village, who have filed their claims under Forest Rights Act, 2006 on the said land and are enjoying rights as enshrined under sub section 1 of Section 3 of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.’

 

The said resolution shall be communicated to

1) Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi,

2) Ministry of Tribal affairs, New Delhi,

3) Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Panaji Goa

4) The Chief Secretary and Chairperson of State Level Monitoring Committee under FRA, Govt of Goa, and

5) District Collector, South Goa

 

The above resolution was proposed by Shri. Surendra Velip was seconded by Shri. Sameer Gaonkar.

 

The villagers present for the gram sabha meeting in large numbers to oppose the proposed forest diversion of 70.20 hectares for the mining Lease bearing No. M.L.3/FeMn/79 - Zamblidadga Iron & Manganese Ore Mine, at Sy.No. 19/0 of Caurem village whose public hearing is scheduled to be held on 11.04.2023 at Maina.

 

The tribal villagers of Caurem who are mostly farmers and forest dwellers have their cultivation on the mountain of Sy.No. 19/0 and collect minor forest produce from the said forest land. The gram sabha members also raised serious concern about their tribal deities 'Bhageli Paik' and 'Galla Naas' who are Rakhandars or protectors, who live on this mountain if the said diversion is allowed. The members further raised concern over the seven perennial springs that originate from the bottom of this mountain.

 

The members also brought to the notice of the gram sabha through a report prepared by the elderly villagers, Committee's decision of Forest Rights Committee and Rule 4 (1) (e) committee constituted under FRA rules, that there are 149 Individual claims and one 'Community forest resource & rights claim' pending for settlement. The report also highlighted the ecological, cultural and religious importance of this mountain towards the existence of Caurem village. The gram sabha then discussed the restriction imposed by the Ministry of Tribal affairs and Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change for the diversion of forest land where there are such religious and forest rights claims.

 

MLA of Sanguem and Minister Shri. Subhash Phal Dessai who was also present for the meeting supported the gram sabha members in opposing the proposed diversion of forest land.

 

The Gram sabha was chaired by Smt. Vidhi Vinod Velip and Dy. Sarpanch Dattesh Gaonkar along with Panchayat members Ulhas Gaonkar, Sangeeta Velip, Dilip Dessai, Madhuri Mainkar were present.

 

Ex- Panchayat member Shri. Ravindra Velip, Nilesh Gaonkar and Chairman of Goa State Co-operative Bank - Shri. Ulhas Phaldessai also shared their views.

 

Ecological critique of Caurem mining EIA report

The quadrats studied for the core area (lease area) covering 70.20 ha are 8 and for the buffer area (within 10 km) covering 179 km2 of dense forest are only 11, which means the quadrats studied for sampling are inadequate compared to the area. It will miss out on important species in the places that are not studied.

The tables showing plant and animal species inventories in tables 3.27 and 3.28 are quite low compared to such a large geographic area.

In Fig. 2.2, it is shown that Village Colomba is also included in the 10 km buffer zone known for the endemic Goa Dipcadi goaense, which is not listed in the plant species inventory, which clearly shows that plants are not studied during the monsoon season and subsequently will miss out on plateau vegetation.

Not a single Ambhibian is noted in the lease area of 70.20 ha. in spite of having water bodies.

And the same applies for Reptiles and mammals.

It should be noted that amphibian diversity is specially studied during the monsoon, as they show maximum activity during the rainy season.

Being that Goa is a part of the Western Ghats, with its rich biodiversity of plant and animal species, it is surprising and suspicious to have such a small number of species in both the lease and buffer zone.

Towards Protecting Cavrem From Mining Aggression

M.L. No. 3/FeMn/79 is a mining lease in survey no. 19 of Goa's Cavrem village consisting of 70.20 hectares of land endowed with iron ore and Manganese underneath.

 The lease was granted on December 12, 1979 by Goa Government as Union Territory of India. Portuguese government had no role in granting of this mining lease even though it had granted 791 mining leases elsewhere in Goa. This situation is creation of Indian administration in Goa as Union Territory after Goa was "annexed through conquest" as stated in Shantilal Gosalia case.

It is huge mountaneuos terrain classified as Forest land. Cavrem village is inhabitants by Tribal people and have staked community Forest Rights claims for the management of Forest Bio-diversity. There are serious attempts by Goa Government administration to sabotage Cavrem peoples Community Forest Rights claims over Forest Rights as revealed from response to Legislative Assembly Question (LAQ). This indicates that administration in Goa has turned bramanical and working actively to suppress Tribal people and their aspirations. This is dangerous trend and could lead to unpredictable consequences.

Validity of this mining leases has undergone few turns and twists. Lease period originally was for twenty years. Then it was renewed for another twenty years. After the lapse of 40 years no renewal was carried on.

Possibly after Fomentos got its eyes on this mining lease claims were mounted to harvest advantage of the amendment in law that gave new life to the expired lease with 50 years period from the commencement of the lease. The lease commenced on December 12, 1979 and will expire again on December 12, 2029.

This fresh mining aggression on Goa is launched by Fomentos using Kirtane and Pradnya Kane as fronts. Fomentos as avoided it self from being easily detected on the radar. There is in-built anti-nature bias in this entire enterprise in addition to anti-tribal bias. In fact Wency Mendes in one of his latest research papers has described character of mining in Goa as bramanical.

Proposal of Rainbow Warriors to freeze mining in Goa for next two decades is more practical step that will help to heal shattered ecology of Goa and avoid further perpetuation of ecocide and ethnic violence in Goa. This is in support interest of current as well as future generations of Goa. Time from mining shut down in Goa from 2012 is the best time for regeneration of Goa's ecology even though it is nightmare for economists that count profit and distribution of profit under various tags and don't admire such shut downs.

Cavrem mining proposal is detrimental to nature and people and must be opposed tooth and nail. Fresh air, fresh water, secure Forest, secure horticulture, secure agriculture and healthy living is at huge risk from mining. 764 page EIA report of Cavrem mining cannot be allowed to blind people from this well known lessons from Goa mining industry. It's entire history had been perilous, deplorable and disgusting to the core.

One only has to visit Cavrem to witness what the planet stands to loose if we remain on sidelines. We at Bharat Mukti Morcha chose to stand in defence of Cavrem people and in opposition to starting of mining at survey no. 19. We invite you to do the same and more!

Cavrem mining Public Hearing for April 11, 2023

It's thick western ghats forest in Cavrem in South Goa currently under eyes of storm. Goa State Pollution Control Board issued notification calling for Public Hearing to start mining of Hill for Iron Ore and Manganese to be held on April 11, 2023. 

The lush green forest will get razed down if the mining proposal gets clearance. 7,02,000 square meters of mountainous land constitute survey no.19 of the Cavrem village on Quepem taluka.

The Forest land hasn't been diverted for mining purpose as per the information presented in EIA Study of the project.

Significant feature of this mountain in Cavrem is that Community has staked claims for community Forest Rights that are mysteriously parked in Deputy Collector's office in Quepem for more than half a decade.

Mountain is sacred for the Tribal people of Cavrem just like Niyamgiri in Orissa. If mountain is razed then community gets razed too.

Though EIA documents doesn't mention but investigations by Villagers indicates that corporate behind pushing to start mining of this mountain is same that devastated several other mountains in Goa connected with Fomentos as their Agents.

Fomentos has gruesome records of environmental damage and Human Rights violations though administration of repressive tactics against communities resisting mining industry in Goa.

Colomba village nearby to Cavrem is one of the best examples of their beastly deeds while running Hiralal Khodidas mining lease there. 

Cavrem village is predominantly Tribal occupied village and has staked claims over Forest to manage it in entirety. Cavrem is one of the few Villages in Goa to achieve this feat.

Company claims it will dig 14 meters deep to extract and export purpose. It is the Villagers that stand to loose. "This mountain is very important to us. If it is mined then villagers will have go away". They will add to the pull of ecological refugees.

Cavrem has strong agitational history including resistence to mining. In December 2007 after GAKUVED protest in Quepem attacked three village Mines and forced shut down temporarily thereby grabbing media headlines. This puts the village in strong position to win this battle too. For this we need to connect with the struggle for the kinds of developmental violence it promises to unleash is transcends village boundary into wider terrains of Goa, India and beyond.

Cavrem has opened up unique opportunity yet again to connect past with the present in relation to mining dynamics in all its dimensions.

We invite you in this journey of reflective action as we move step by step towards expression and healing.  To support cavrem Villagers in their current combat and amplify the local voice and articulate further. We at this blog are attempting exactly this. Do get involve!

Pictures from mining protest in Caurem

Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) supports current protests against mining in Caurem in Quepem Taluka of Goa. These pictures are of April 09, 2016. We share here the Press Release from Ravindra Velip about the day's protest interspersing in-between pictures with additional comments from BMM.

It was a peaceful protest by Caurem tribals by standing on the roadside, but their slogans written on placards were louder enough to realise that peace does not exist in this remote mining village of Quepem taluka.

They protested peacefully standing on the roadside while mining trucks were illegally transporting the e-auctioned iron ore from Fomento mines.

Finally the protesting villagers burnt the statue of Sanguem MLA Subhash Faldessai.

Women squatting on site with placards of protests

It was a unique scene with police force deployed at the mining lease while villagers were standing on the road, holding placards in their hands.

Most of them were women including children and senior peoples of village

It was a  peaceful protest, to reach out their feelings to the authorities, with a hope they would listen and act against the illegal transportation.

 The message is clear: Stop harassing tribal people. Harassment is from Bamon Avadoot Timblo. Bamons have historically looted tribal people in India. This loot continues and Cavrem is one more example in Goa. Essentially this is an issue as much of race as it is of economics.

 Though she is old at protest her spirit is young and determination to fight is intense.

 We are determined to fight to the victory!

They have demanded the following:-

1. To stop immediately illegal transportation that is taking place.

2. inventory of the iron ore before transporting it, claiming that the quantity of the ore is more than double of what is being measured by the mines department.

3. Immediately register an FIR, Suspend jail authorities of Sada sub-jail and inquire into the matter Ravindra's assault.

4. Suspend PI Pravin Gawas ans PSI Vinayak Patil of Quepem Police station and inquire into the assault of Tribal villagers when they were custody of Quepem police on 06.04.2016

5. Immediately register 'The Sadhana Multipurpose co-op society' and allow to transport the e-auctioned ore through the society. 

       

Because they stopped ore transportation before inventory, the police arrested them thrice while Ravindra was blind-folded and beaten up in a judicial lock-up, fracturing his hand.